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Nuclear Medicine Technologist Salary 2026: NMT Pay by State & Setting
Nuclear Medicine Technologist Salary 2026: NMT Pay by State, Setting & Credentials
The average nuclear medicine technologist (NMT) salary in 2026 is $85,000–$105,000/year — one of the highest base salaries in allied health imaging, exceeded only by radiation therapists in some markets. Nuclear medicine techs prepare and administer radiopharmaceuticals, operate gamma cameras and PET/CT scanners, and work with radioactive materials under NRC/Agreement State regulations. PET/CT technologists — who combine nuclear medicine with computed tomography for oncology, cardiology, and neurology studies — earn $95,000–$115,000. This premium reflects the combination of specialized physics knowledge, radiation safety responsibility, and the relatively small workforce pipeline (<6,000 active NMTs nationally).
Nuclear Medicine Technologist Salary by State (2026)
| State | Avg Annual Salary | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| California | $118,000 | Top nationally by significant margin; union contracts; UCSF, Cedars-Sinai, Kaiser PET/CT programs |
| Washington | $111,000 | UW Medical, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center (PET/CT research); SEIU contracts |
| Hawaii | $108,000 | Island shortage; small NMT workforce; Queens Medical PET/CT; cost of living premium |
| Massachusetts | $107,000 | Mass General nuclear medicine, Dana-Farber Cancer (PET/CT volume); academic center density |
| New York | $104,000 | Memorial Sloan Kettering PET/CT, NYP, Mount Sinai; 1199SEIU; NYC premium |
| Minnesota | $99,000 | Mayo Clinic nuclear medicine nationally ranked (including theranostics program) |
| Texas | $92,000 | MD Anderson Cancer Center (high PET/CT volume), UT Southwestern; no income tax; Houston Medical Center |
| Ohio | $90,000 | Cleveland Clinic, Ohio State Comprehensive Cancer Center (James); academic nuclear medicine programs |
| Florida | $88,000 | Moffitt Cancer Center (PET/CT volume), AdventHealth, HCA; no state income tax; high travel demand |
| Arizona | $87,000 | Banner, Mayo Clinic Arizona; Phoenix cancer center growth driving PET/CT demand |
| Georgia | $85,000 | Emory Winship Cancer Institute (Lutetium-177 theranostics), Piedmont; Atlanta market strongest |
NMT Credentials & Their Salary Impact
- ARRT(N) — Nuclear Medicine Technology: ARRT post-primary credential; requires accredited NMT program completion + exam. Standard at hospital nuclear medicine departments. Most facilities accept ARRT(N) or CNMT (below).
- CNMT (Certified Nuclear Medicine Technologist): Offered by the Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board (NMTCB); alternative primary credential; 1-year experience + exam required. Some employers specifically prefer CNMT over ARRT(N) for autonomous nuclear pharmacy decisions.
- PET Specialty Credential (ARRT PET or NMTCB PET): PET-specific add-on; required at many dedicated PET/CT centers. Adds $8,000–$15,000 above standard gamma camera tech roles.
- Theranostics/Radiopharmacy specialization: Lutetium-177 PSMA therapy (prostate cancer), Y-90 radioembolization, I-131 thyroid cancer therapy — facilities running theranostics programs pay NMT premiums of $12,000–$20,000 for techs with these protocols. Emerging high-growth area.
PET/CT vs. Gamma Camera NMT: Salary Difference
| Role | Avg Annual Salary | Key Difference |
|---|---|---|
| Gamma Camera NMT (Planar/SPECT) | $82,000–$98,000 | Bone scans, myocardial perfusion (MIBI stress), thyroid scans, sentinel node mapping |
| PET/CT NMT | $95,000–$115,000 | FDG oncology studies, amyloid/tau brain PET, cardiac viability PET; CT component adds complexity |
| PET/MRI NMT | $105,000–$125,000 | Emerging modality; simultaneous PET+MRI; requires both NMT + MR safety credentials; rare role |
Nuclear Medicine Technologist Job Outlook 2026
Nuclear medicine technology has one of the smallest allied health workforces: approximately 19,000 employed NMTs nationally (BLS). Theranostics — using targeted radioactive drugs to both diagnose and treat cancer — is the fastest-growing segment. FDA approvals of Lutetium-177 PSMA (Pluvicto) and Lutetium-177 DOTATATE (Lutathera) have created urgent demand for NMTs trained in therapeutic radiopharmaceutical administration at comprehensive cancer centers. NMTs who add theranostics competency in 2025–2026 are positioning for the highest-earning tier of the profession.
Data from BLS, NMTCB workforce data, ARRT annual report, and Ava Health placement data. Ranges reflect 25th–75th percentile of 2026 active NMT job postings.
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